Hinge



(No Model.)

HINGE.

9 .5 A". e n 1 w t. UNITED STATES PATENT OEEtCE.

JOHN F. HIRST, OF SABATTUS, MAINE.

HINGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,492, dated August23, 1892.

Application led December l0, 1891. Serial No. 414,626. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN F. HiRs'i, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sabattus, in thecounty of Androscoggin and Stateof Maine,haveinvented certain new and usefulImprovements in Hinges; and I dohereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in hinges especially adapted foruse on trunks and other places where bracket-hinges are employed tosustain a part in position and relieve the pivot-pin from strain.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved hinge of a simpleand durable construction and to provide means which relieve the pivot ofthe hinge from strain when it is closed.

With these ends in view my invention consists of two leaves pivotedtogether in the usual manner and an oblong bail pivoted in a socket nearthe end of one leaf and having the other end adapted to slide in atransverse slot in the other leaf, so that the bail is adapted to formthe hypotenuse of a triangle when the hinges are bent; but it will liein alignment with the edges of the leaves when the hinges are open totake the strain off the pivotin this position. n

My invention consists, further, ot certain details of construction andarrangements of parts, as will more fully appear hereinafter.

I have illustratedmy invention in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure I is a front elevation of the hinge as it appears when opened.Fig. II is a rear elevation. Fig. III is a side view of the hingeclosed. Fig. IV is a longitudinal section, and Fig. Vis an enlargeddetail view showing the manner in which the removable plates arearranged on the leaves of the hinge.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denotecorresponding parts in all the gures, A A designate the leaves of myimproved hinge, which are'pivotally secured together by a transversepintle or pin a in the usual manner. The upper leaf A is cut away andnarrowed at a to fit snugly and tightly over the band-iron around atrunk-cover.

At or near the upper end of the leaf A is a transverse socket B, whichextends entirely across the leaf, and a removable plate bis adapted tobe fitted or sprung in place on the rear face of leaf over the socket toinclose the same and prevent the bail from becoming displaced and out oforder.

In the lower portion of the leaf A is a slot C, extending across theleaf, which is enlarged on its front face to provide for the slot.. A

1 removable plate c is fitted or sprung in place on the rear face ofthis leaf over said slot in a manner similar to the plate b. The hingeis fastened to a trunk or other place in the usual manner by screws orother suitable means, and the plates b c on the rear face of the leaveswill be clamped tightly against the trunk. It is therefore unnecessaryto provide any means for securing the plates b cin their proper place;but I prefer to dovetail the inner edges of the seats Z9 c so that theseplates will fit tightly in place. These plates are preferably madetapering at the edges, as shown in the drawings, so that when fitted inplace they will not be liable to move edgewise and get out of order.When the plates are arranged in place they are secured by swaging theedge thereof by a blow on a punch which is placed on the plate, and itwill only be found necessary to swage the plates once at each end, asthey will remain in position with a very little purchase.

The bail D is oblong in shape, audits ends are arranged in the socket Band slot C of the leaves, respectively. The length of the bail is suchthat when the hinge is open it will align with the edges of the leavesand relieve the pintle from strain by supporting thelowerleaf from thesocket in the upper leaf. The slot C allows the bail to play freely backand forth as the hinge is open and closed, which provides for the readyadjustment.

This is a very important construction of the vide an easy and readymeans for removing the bail, when it is so desired, While they keep thesame in position when the hinge is fastened in place.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and detailsof construction can be made without departing from the spirit orsacrificing the advantages of my invention, and I therefore reserve theright to make such changes as fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A hinge, substantially as shown and described, comprising the hingedleaves, each Vprovided on its rear face with the seats b c',

one leaf having a transverse socket and the other leaf a longitudinalslot, the bail having zo its ends fitted in the socket and slot of there- D, fitted at its ends in the socket and slot of 3o the respectiveleaves, and the removable plates fitted tightly in the seats of saidleaves and arranged flush with the rear faces thereof,as and for thepurpose described.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. HIRST.

Witnesses:

HUGH MATHsoN, B. L. MAXWELL.

